CFA Judge Brian Moser Retires
June 2, 2026
Wendy Heidt
I had seen judges behind the table at the few local shows. But I never really talked to any of them other than a brief “Thank you” when picking up a coveted final award for my household pet.
That changed when I attended the 2006 CFA Annual meeting in Reno, Nevada.
Brian Moser was sitting by himself in the hotel cafe. I said hello, and he said I could join him. Wow! A judge talked to me, I thought. Little did either of us know it would kick off a long friendship.
He politely listened to my questions about what an annual meeting was, what is it like to be a judge, and how his journey in the cat fancy came to be. He listened to my newbie questions and answered without judgment. To my surprise, I was then invited on a road trip with Brian, his wife Pam, and a crew of Region 2 exhibitors to a nearby ghost town and visited “The Bucket of Blood Saloon.” What a fun adventure that was.
Brian grew up in St. Helens, Oregon. After high school, he served in the Air Force and was stationed in Vietnam for a year. Brian and Pam Moser started their breeding program in the 1970s with Persians, and later, American Shorthairs.
Brian was accepted into the CFA judging program in 1992. He served on the CFA board as a director-at-large for two years, from 2019-2021, as well as serving on the protest committee. He has trained dozens of upcoming CFA judges and mentored at least as many. At the April 7, 2026 CFA board meeting, Brian Moser was granted judge emeritus status.
When I was managing one of my first shows, we had so many challenges … one after another. We thought we were finally ready to start the show but realized we were missing the ring numbers. A poor club member was getting panicky and crying, as she had mistakenly left them behind. Brian quietly took her aside and told her it would be okay – it is just a cat show. She really needed to hear that, especially from a person she respected. She never forgot his kindness.
At the McKenzie River Cat Club show on March 21, 2026, Brian Moser judged his final cat show. We had to secretly plan a party for the guy who wanted no fuss, just to walk off into the sunset without any fanfare. A large crowd toasted Brian for his 34 years of service to CFA as a judge. In preparation for this event, I had asked folks about their memories or thoughts. A few words came up over and over: Brian is such an easy-going guy. He is approachable and friendly. He is warm and honest.
During the toast, Brian shared a story with a punchline. When he and Pam were young and starting out in the cat fancy, they bred Persians. They had entered a show weeks in advance, as was typical at the time. The day before the show, there was a snowstorm. They talked about not going, but instead got up before the crack of dawn, packed the car, and headed down the road in their VW Bug. While finding their way and making fresh tracks in the snow, Brian stated, “You know, these cats are worth more than this car!”
Brian and Pam live in a small community in the Willamette Valley. Brian always has projects around the house he works on. They have one American Shorthair, Trouble. His story is one for another day, and one you should ask Brian about yourself when you see him.
Friendly, kind, ethical, and truly loving of the cats he has handled, but most of all, a guy who enjoys the people around him and appreciates what life has to offer. That is who I know Brian Moser to be.